Second Chasidic Man Attacked with a Rock in NY

A second Chasidic man was attacked with a rock in Brooklyn, N.Y. in the span of less than a week on Aug. 29, COLlive.com reports.

The victim, who has not been identified, was in his truck waiting for the traffic light to change on Brooklyn Avenue in Crown Heights when a rock was tossed into the driver’s side of the truck, which had the window down. The rock struck the victim in the eye, causing a laceration on his head. He is not currently hospitalized, according to the local New York news station 1010 WINS.

An official from the New York Police Department told COLlive.com that the alleged attack is being investigated as a possible hate crime. ABC 7 New York Editor Morena Basteiro similarly tweeted:

#BREAKING: @NYPDHateCrimes is investigating a second incident of a Jewish man attacked with a rock in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Victim suffered a laceration to the head. @ABC7NY

— Morena Basteiro (@morenabasteiro) August 30, 2019

Sgt. Mary Frances O’Donnell, spokesperson for the NYPD Deputy Commissioner Public Information’s office, told the Journal in an email that they’re looking for a male suspect at this time.

Anti-Defamation League New York and New Jersey Regional Director Evan Bernstein tweeted, “.@ADL_NYNJ is aware of this alleged #antisemitic incident in #Brooklyn and is is talking with #NYPD to learn more information.”

.@ADL_NYNJ is aware of this alleged #antisemitic incident in #Brooklyn and is is talking with #NYPD to learn more information. https://t.co/d5zqQdEgir

— Evan R. Bernstein (@bernstein_evan) August 29, 2019

On Aug. 27, Chasidic Rabbi Avraham Gopin, 63, was assaulted in Lincoln Terrace Park; the assailant struck him in the face with a brick and began punching several times until Gopin fought back. Gopin’s injuries included a broken nose and knocked out teeth from the attack.

“It was hate,” Gopin told CBS New York. “He said, ‘Jew, Jew.’ He said something in that direction… he was for certain looking to kill. No doubt about [that].”

It is not yet known if the two attacks are connected.